Liz Cheney went from being a promising star of the Republican Party and an ardent ally of former President Donald Trump to making headline news recently over her switch in political allegiance. The transition isn’t an individual decision per se, but it identifies critical splits in American politics between old-school conservatism and the MAGA factor. But for their non-stop hate of all things Democratic, Cheney’s backing of Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election holds a special place of ire among MAGA enthusiasts, who absolutely refuse to see Cheney’s action as anything other than some sort of betrayal.
The road to political realignment
Ever since the event of January 6, 2021, Cheney has experienced some change in her political trajectory. A congresswoman for Wyoming, she was, for all practical purposes, a loyalist of Trump, voting with him nearly 93% of the time. That dramatically changed after the riot at Capitol Hill, when she blamed Trump for public violence. Cheney voted to impeach Trump and became vice chair of the House select committee investigating the insurrection-acts that ultimately cost her the support of many Republican constituents and led to her defeat in the 2022 primary by Trump-backed Harriet Hageman.
She has reached out for political relevance and support from Democrats and independents by reaching out to those who also oppose Trump. Her endorsement of Kamala Harris is part of the larger effort to round up bipartisan support in opposition to what she sees as a threat to democracy-a possible return of Trump to power. Even on October 3, 2024 during a rally in Wisconsin with Kamala Harris, she lambasted Trump as well discussed with this article, Liz Cheney’s brutal attack on Donald Trump in one of the most hotly contested states on Nov. 5 – This was Kamala Harris’ reaction…
Cheney’s support for Harris
Cheney at one point said she would vote for Kamala Harris over Donald Trump, during a Duke University panel discussion on this year’s presidential election. She explained her reasons based on her adherence to constitutional principles and the risks of the kind of leadership Trump represented. Cheney trailed off with, “As a conservative and as someone who cares and believes in the Constitution. I will be voting for Kamala Harris,” and went on to receive scatters of applause from an audience largely in concert with her position.
Cheney’s endorsement of Harris goes beyond party affiliation to a difference in ideological identity as detailed here, Who is Liz Cheney, the former Republican congresswoman from Wyoming who will vote for Kamala Harris in November?. She has presented her endorsement of Harris as a patriotic duty-one needed for the protection of democratic values above any partisan loyalty. That resonates with some voters who are disenchanted by the trajectory the Republican Party has taken under Trump’s influence.
Reaction from MAGA supporters
That has inflamed the MAGA base, conservative allies who view her as a traitor for getting so close to Harris. Many believe she has abandoned her roots to turn against the very party that brought her into its fold, a feeling compounded by Trump’s own vitriolic responses: he’s called Cheney “disgraceful” and suggested she deserves legal consequences over her January 6 actions.
MAGA Republicans view Cheney’s endorsement of a Democrat as undercutting conservative principles she had preached for so long. They see her working in conjunction with Harris as an effort to hurt Trump’s candidacy rather than any noble effort to save or protect democracy. To this degree, it has fully set her, in many eyes, as persona non grata, he notes-food for political consumption and further alienates her from prospective allies within her former party.
A broader political strategy
This pivot by Cheney in support of Democrats may also be interpreted as part of the greater strategy to unite anti-Trump forces across party lines. Aligning herself with Harris, she hopes to siphon off some of those moderate Republicans and independents who are concerned about the influence Trump is having on American politics. This strategy will be most apt in swing states, where votes are crucial for both parties.
Cheney’s campaign also expresses strong overtures of patriotism and fidelity to the Constitution, appealing not only to Democrats but also disillusioned Republicans who may feel similarly about Trump’s fit for the presidency. Her appearances with Harris in key battleground states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin illustrate this approach, whereby they seek to create a coalition focused on preserving democratic norms.
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